Quote:
Originally Posted by retirebatam
Now or May 2018
All telco require registration be it data only or data+call.
Telcomsel prepaid sim have to go to nagoya hill Telkomsel to register, waiting time about 30-40mins during off peak hours. During peak hours/season may have to wait for more than one hour.
Therefore now, we only left with the following choice to be on-line if we do not buy an indonesian sim card:
1) Use singapore telco data roaming
2) Use hotel provided wi-fi in the room or lobby
3) Go to those restarants/cafe in Nagoya Hill Mall that offers free wifi e.g. Coffee town at level 1, Malaya Cafe at level 3, Baresto Cafe at level 3 , etc.
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I would like to add some comments for point 1...
1) The cheapest way to use data in indonesia is actually to buy a singapore prepaid sim card example M card of $5 that comes with 500MB for 20 days and this data can also be used in indonesia as data roaming.
2) After the 20 days has expired, the data becomes no more and the next time you want to use as data roaming again, you can use your main balance of $5 to buy data pack to be used in Batam again.
3) Buying a indonesia starter pack data sim can be more expensive e.g. 50k-100k (although more data given) and to endure the hassle to register at the telco office
The following are the data packs available and can be deducted from main balance of $5 of the M card:
3 Days data pack
100MB $2
1 GB $5
7 Days data pack
10MB $1
1 GB $7
30 Days data pack
300MB $5
1 GB $10
Therefore now I see no reason to buy indonesia sim card for data usage in Batam UNLESS you need to make frequent land line voice calls back to singapore OR call hotels, travel agent, bank, ferry office in Batam. However if you have already make your trip arrangement beforehand then there should not be any need to call land line.
Handphone call to handphone whether in singapore or in batam can always use social media like whatapps, messenger, wechat, skype, etc.. for communication..
But one advantage about having a local sim card is that a person can make urgent call to seek for help should there be an emergency situation..
